Discover Azerbaijan with its historic, UNESCO-protected old city of Baku and World Heritage Petoglyphs at Gobustan

Meet the local Azeri at architecturally important Sheki and visit historic Shemakha

Explore the Georgian capital Tbilisi, with its interesting old town, and sample some of the local wine of the nearby Kakheti region

Learn about one of the oldest churches of Christianity, as we discover the fascinating monasteries of Armenia and its historic capital Yerevan

View the dramatic mountain scenery of Armenia, as well as the high peaks of the Greater Caucasus Mountains , as we cross the border into Georgia to delightful Mestia and the UNESCO-listed village of Ushguli - not forgetting to taste some of the local produce

Visit the Georgian UNESCO-protected sites of the 12th century Gelati Monastery and Begrati Cathedral, a masterpiece in the history of modern and medieval Georgian architecture

Tour Overview

The mountainous land wedged between the Caspian and the Black Seas is home to the countries of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia. Lying in the shadow of the Caucasus Mountains, this region has formed a crossroad between East and West. Invaders and merchants from past great empires including Greek, Persian, Roman, Venetian, Ottoman and Russian have conquered and interacted to create a wonderful mix of cultures. Each shares a border with the other two, yet each could hardly be more different. Three unrelated languages are spoken here, and two different religions hold sway. All have robust pagan roots, a love of life and a strong culture of hospitality, family and home.

We begin in Baku on the shore of the Caspian Sea. The old town centre is now a World Heritage site dating back to the 12th century, while the modern city boasts some of the world's most cutting-edge architecture. We also learn about the bold and bright designs of Azerbaijan’s carpets. In Georgia, we savour red wines, enjoy its unique cuisine and experience the country's diverse landscape, from the lush shores of the Black Sea to some of Europe's most dramatic peaks. In Armenia, the world’s first Christian state, we admire the sculpted stone khachkar crosses which dot the green hillsides and, in both Georgia and Armenia, we visit stunning mountain monasteries.

Tour Inclusions

19 nights in en-suite hotel accommodation

Typical local breakfast daily, 19 dinners and 18 lunches

Transport, lectures and field trips as indicated

Applicable entry fees and services of local guides

Services of a Program Leader

Gratuities and necessary tips

Detailed Program Information Booklet

Group at Sheki

Khor Virap, Armenia

Sheki, Azerbaijan

Ushguli, Georgia

Wine Producing Kakheti region in Georgia

Group at Ushguli

Khor Virap, Armenia

Group dinner at Baku

Peter Burns

Peter Burnsgrew up in suburban Melbourne and graduated as a civil engineer. He then completed a Master of Natural Resources and Diploma in Education at the University of New England in Armidale, NSW. Peter has led groups throughout India, the 'Stans', Iran and the Caucasus: but his real passion is perhaps Scotland, where he loves showing groups the best of the Scottish Isles.

Moderate

This program includes placeswhich can only be explored on foot and where walking tours may be a little longer and not always on the flat. Accommodation may have some stairs and or have some rooms which may involve some walking to access. All our programs naturally involve some walking in order to discover bet­ter the places visited and, although we arrange porterage where this is available, participants are expected to be able to handle their own bags. Our program leaders will always try to make as much of the program as possible available for those who find walking longer distances, uphill or down steps difficult but, in same places, this cannot always be avoided. If you have any concerns at all about your level of fitness, please do not hesitate to talk to us and discuss further with the experts who know the particular demands of each program.

Complete the details you have available (we understand your flights and travel insurance details may not be confirmed when you make your booking).

Print and sign your form, then simply scan and email your form direct to info@goldencompasstours.co.nz. If you prefer you can fax your form to +44 (0) 1494 431 144, or post it to our New Zealand postal address at:

Please note we require a deposit of NZD500 per person per program with the full balance for each tour being due 70 days prior to the start of your program or programs in the UK, Europe, North Africa or Asia.

Once the deposit payment has been taken you will then be sent your confirmation letter either by email or post (as you prefer). An invoice for the balance will be issued to you 12 weeks prior to the departure of your first tour or tours. Full payment by MasterCard, Visa or electronic bank transfer is required 70 days prior to the start of your tour.

If you need any assistance please call our Freephone number on 0800 132 385.

Golden Compass’s Tours educational travel programs are only available by booking direct with Golden Compass Tours. This gives you a cost saving and dealing direct with the specialist who actually arranges your tour on the ground.

Follow these simple steps to secure your place on one of our unique tours:

Select the program or programs you are interested in joining, make a note of the program code that appears next to the program price (eg: GCTAD17) and call us on 1800 132 385 to check availability and hold an option.

Complete the details you have available (we understand your flights and travel insurance details may not be confirmed when you make your booking).

Print and sign your form, then simply scan and email your form direct to info@goldencompasstours.com.au. If you prefer you can post it to our Australian postal address at:

Golden Compass, PO Box 163, Keiraville, NSW 2500, Australia.

Please note we require a deposit of AUD500 per person per program with the full balance for each tour being due 80 days prior to the start of your program.

Once the deposit payment has been taken you will then be sent your confirmation letter either by email or post (as you prefer). An invoice for the balance will be issued to you 12 weeks prior to the departure of your first tour or tours. Full payment by MasterCard, Visa or electronic bank transfer is required 80 days prior to the start of your tour. Payment will be charged by Golden Compass Tours from you in Australian dollars.

If you need any assistance, please call our Freecall number on 1800 132 385.

Moderate

This program includes placeswhich can only be explored on foot and where walking tours may be a little longer and not always on the flat. Accommodation may have some stairs and or have some rooms which may involve some walking to access. All our programs naturally involve some walking in order to discover bet­ter the places visited and, although we arrange porterage where this is available, participants are expected to be able to handle their own bags. Our program leaders will always try to make as much of the program as possible available for those who find walking longer distances, uphill or down steps difficult but, in same places, this cannot always be avoided. If you have any concerns at all about your level of fitness, please do not hesitate to talk to us and discuss further with the experts who know the particular demands of each program.